- Gold and silver prices are trading near unchanged levels on the day in early U.S. action Thursday. The precious metals are seeing a routine pause after the strong gains posted Wednesday that have put the bulls in firm near-term technical control. February gold futures were last down $0.40 at $1,843.10 and March Comex silver was last up $0.029 at $24.26 an ounce.

A report said the big jump in gold prices to a two-month high on Wednesday occurred as a big inflow of $305 million went into the SPDR gold exchange traded fund (ETF) on Wednesday. The report said that was the biggest money inflow into a gold ETF since November. This is just one more indicator of traders and investors worrying about and acting upon rising and even problematic inflation.

Global stock markets were mixed overnight, with European shares mostly up and Asian shares mostly down. U.S. stock indexes are pointed toward higher openings when the New York day session begins. The Nasdaq stock index has moved into "correction" territory, which means its price is down over 20% from its peak.